Dtee has been at the temple for three weeks now. He is from Bangkok.
''I know that it's a bit strange that I'm staying in the hospice, rather than in one of the houses outside, since I'm not showing any outward signs of being sick. But that's because the house they gave me to live in was so dirty! They hadn't cleaned it out after the last person who was there. Anyway, in the end I did the cleaning, but then somebody stole some of my stuff out of the room. I decided to come and stay in the hospice.
''I spend my day looking after other patients who are really sick here. I go and buy them stuff from the store or give them massages. I'm getting pretty good at massages.
''I found out I had AIDS after I got a bad stomach. My boss sent me to the doctor. I don't have much education. My parents are both Chinese, and I didn't do very well in school, so I left after only a few years. I can read, but very slowly. So usually I don't bother. I can write my name, though.
''Anyway, I got a job at a famous Buddha statue in Bangkok. My job was to collect the old garlands and generally keep the place tidy. I'd get about 100 Baht (US$2) a day for it, which I could live on. Sometimes I'd get more than that if I was lucky.
''I slept with prostitutes. Sometimes I didn't wear a condom. That's where I got it from. This is my fate and I have to accept it. Anyway, I'm pretty strong now so life is okay for me.''
[Wee] [Mai] [Gob] [Joe] [Oo-an] [Nick] [Dtee] [Gern]